Are dogs allowed on cruise ships? Here are cruises that allow pets
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If you're on a pre- or post-cruise land tour to Denali National Park & Preserve, you may want to visit the park's resident sled dogs. Known affectionately as "bark rangers," they are tasked with hauling supplies around the park in winter (motorized vehicles are banned in much of the 2 million-acre park). Some maintain that, because laws prevent questions from being asked of the owners of alleged service animals, it's easy for passengers to claim that their uncertified pets serve a medical purpose in order to bring them onboard. You'll also learn how dogs played an important part in Alaska history – before snowmobiles (known in Alaska as snow machines), teams of dog teams carried mail, medical supplies and other materials to remote communities. Dogs are regularly walked (and cleaned up after) by a team that includes a "kennel master" and an assistant.
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"Someone came in with their dog in a stroller, wheeled it up to her table and set his food bowl on the table for him to eat alongside her. I am a dog lover, but I think things are going a bit far." If you're looking for pet-friendly cruises to treat Fido or Fluffy, you may not have much luck. True pet-friendly cruises that allow dogs and cats are few and far between. In fact, only one of the major lines allows passengers to cruise with pets, and even that's just on one ship on one itinerary.
Meet the 'Chief Dog Officer' on Royal Caribbean's New Ship — a Puppy Named Rover - Yahoo News Canada
Meet the 'Chief Dog Officer' on Royal Caribbean's New Ship — a Puppy Named Rover.
Posted: Fri, 19 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruises
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Which Ships Offer Pet-Friendly Cruises?
The vessel single-handedly upholds the line's longstanding tradition of being pet-friendly. Just be prepared to pay almost as much for your pet to cruise as you'll pay for yourself. Prices are in the region of $1,000 per dog and from $1,000 to $1,600 per cat. (Cats require two kennels -- one for the litter box and one for the cat.) Teacup-size dogs and up to two cats can share a kennel, but larger pets will need their own.
You can hang out with your furry friend during set visiting hours. On select transatlantic sailings between New York and Southampton in the United Kingdom, Cunard makes two dozen kennels located in a private area aft on Deck 12 available to pet owners. In addition to the cages, there is the Owner's Lounge, where guests may spend quality time with their pets, and a large, gated outdoor exercise area equipped with an antique lamppost from Liverpool and a fire hydrant from New York City. One cruise line has a dedicated kennel on board its most iconic vessel, and there's space for both dogs and cats. However, you'll have to leave your bird, hamster and ferret at home. We know it can be difficult to be away from your four-legged friends when you travel, especially if you're on a family vacation.
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If you want to go all-out, you can order treats such as liver or a steak for your pet for an additional fee. Those who want a fun memento may have their pet pose for a photo wearing a red Cunard uniform or a Queen Mary 2 life ring. If you're interested in reserving a spot for Rover or Whiskers, do it early, as the ship only has room for up to 24 pets. Cunard recommends booking at least 12 months in advance if you'd like to secure kennel accommodations for your pet on Queen Mary 2. Or, if you want to show off photos of your own cats while wearing cat ears and sipping cocktails, or participate in themed events such as cat trivia and a cat scavenger hunt, book a Meow Meow cruise, an annual at-sea gathering of cat fans.
Can You Take Service Dogs on a Cruise?
Feeding bowls and beds are provided; food can also be provided upon request. Pets will have organized playtime, and you'll be able to visit them during designated hours each day.
Are service animals allowed on cruises?
Here's more information about Norwegian Cruise Line's pet policy. On Alaska sailings, cruise lines also typically have dogsled shore excursions where passengers are pulled by a team of sled dogs on the snowy top of a glacier (you get there via helicopter) or in a cart on a dirt training trail. The experiences are available in ports such as Juneau and Seward. Though we might all dream of a vacation full of dogs on cruise ships, how else can you enjoy a pet-friendly cruise vacation without your own pet in tow?
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Try booking yourself on a cruise that celebrates all things pet-related. In all cases, service dog owners need to make reservations for their canines in advance and are responsible for researching and understanding rules for disembarking with a dog at each port of call. (Canine companions may not be allowed off the ship at some ports.) Additionally, there might be specific immunization requirements. Even if you don't bring your pet, there are ways to cuddle with puppies on cruise ships and admire dogs and kittens at ports of call. Passengers can be quick to judge when pets don't seem to be treated like service animals, too. "We had a small 'service dog' on our last cruise that was being pushed around in a stroller!" says Cruise Critic member sprockie.
Back in the 1800s, cats were "employed" on Cunard ships to take care of vermin. In the 1900s, the rich and famous — including actress Elizabeth Taylor — set sail with their pets. The ship's list of famous past guests includes the dancing dog Pudsey, a winner of "Britain's Got Talent" who sailed with human partner Ashleigh Jade Butler in 2012. In fact, the only cruise line with facilities for your dog or cat is Cunard Line, and the only ship in its fleet equipped to carry Fluffy and Fido is the posh 2,691-passenger Queen Mary 2 ocean liner.
You won't be able to bring Mittens on this oceangoing adventure, but you will be surrounded by lots of other cat-lovers who share your fondness for felines. Another alternative is to book an animal-centric shore excursion, such as horseback riding in Mexico and the Caribbean or a visit to a musher's camp to play with sled dog puppies in Alaska. For cruisers who need a puppy-cuddle fix during their sailing, Princess Cruises brings professional sled dog racing humans and their husky puppies on board ships in Skagway, Alaska, as part of the line's North to Alaska immersion program. Pet owners are required to bring food and bowls, and the dog must remain on a leash or harness in public areas and may not be left unattended in your cabin. Here's more information about bringing pets on board Royal Caribbean ships.
Although most cruise lines ban dogs on cruise ships, exceptions are made for service animals (of course, this doesn't exactly qualify as making a ship pet-friendly). Requirements for traveling with a service dog vary by cruise line, so be sure to ask about the policy for your ship if you'll be bringing a canine companion onboard. On Royal Caribbean, for instance, only pets that are "individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability" are allowed. Royal Caribbean provides a specific 16-square-foot relief area covered in cypress mulch that's shared with any other service dogs on board. The cruise line notes on its website that your dog may not relieve him or herself among the live trees in Central Park on the Oasis-class ships.
That doesn't mean your pet will be able to snuggle with you in your cabin. They'll be confined to their own kennel on QM2's Deck 12, where dedicated crew members feed, walk and clean up after them, in addition to lavishing them with treats and toys. If your dog makes a mess on board, you could be charged a cleaning fee. With no veterinarian on board, you may also want to bring along doggy seasickness pills just in case. Those not traveling with their pet but wanting a glimpse of the pampered dogs should head to the outdoor area on Deck 12 in the late afternoon when the dogs get free time. If you are sailing on one of Celebrity Cruises' new Edge-class ships, you might spot Bug Naked, a hairless Sphynx owned by Capt. Kate McCue, who dresses Bug in a miniature captain's uniform and pushes her around the ship in a stroller.
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